Ashley’s P.O.V.Jenna, my best friend, my sister in everything but blood, was dragged into the clearing before the stage, dropping my heart to my stomach. A chill ran down my spine as I gasped.“No! It can’t be!”She looked disheveled, her wrists bound, eyes widened, and terrified. She raised her head and looked at me with such unreadable expressions that twisted my guts. I took a step forward, grabbing Vincenzo’s arm.“What the hell is going on here?”My voice trembled with disbelief. “Why is Jenna being arrested?”Alpha turned to me slowly, the ache in his eyes almost too much to bear. “Ashley, I wanted to tell you. I truly did. But if I did that, she would have disappeared before we could confront her in front of the entire pack.”“No!!!” My lips parted in denial.“That’s my friend, Jenna. There has to be a mistake. She would never do this.”“Ashley!” Jenna’s voice cracked with emotions, loud and shaking over the stunned silence of the crowd. “You and I have spent five
Ashley’s P.O.V.The sun dipped low, casting a golden hue across the pack’s internal ground as the final ribbons were tied. The last prayer candles were placed. The entire pack moved like a tide of grief and reverence, preparing for the Moon and Honor ceremony, a sacred event to remember the fallen. And I … I wore the sorrow like silk, my face was solemn. My eyes were red, rimmed from the ‘lack of sleep’. I murmured words of respect as I moved between the grieving families, warriors, and the council members. But underneath the somber mask, my heart was dancing in glee. I was patient because of Vincenzo’s illness, suppressing my desires for the sake of his health. The moment I discovered his full recovery, the fire in my chest became unbearable. The bond was restrained and rogue, pulling me towards Vincenzo with full force, urging me to take the rejection back ASAP.If it wasn’t for the pack’s link connection and the revelation of Vincenzo’s recovery, I would never waste a sec
Ashley’s P.O.V.I barely reached the parking lot when I realized that I had left my cell phone on the side table. With a groan, I turned around and went back to Vincenzo’s room, half worried that he would have already buried it under a pile of reports and files. Only the Moon Goddess knew how many things that man could lose under the mess of paperwork!However, as I pushed open the door without knocking, a startling sight was waiting for me, throwing my world into chaos. Vincenzo was standing!Yes! Casually stretching his arms, his shirt rode slightly up as he rotated his shoulders like he hadn’t had a heart surgery a few days ago. My widened eyes darted towards Carson, who had a tab in his hand, blinking at me like a beer caught in headlights. I gasped.“What the hell is going on here?”Vincenzo flinched, but a slow, guilty smile curled up his lips, churning my stomach. I instinctively took a step back as he moved towards me.“Kitten, I can explain!”Well, I wasn’t in th
Vincenzo’s P.O.V.I swear I forgot to breathe when Carson wheeled me into the room. Gone were the sterile white walls, the cold hum of hospital machinery, and that impersonal, pungent scent of disinfectants.In their place?A soft golden glow from the fairy lights draped across the ceiling, changing the entire atmosphere with fresh roses and soft music. It didn’t look like a hospital room anymore, but a home. Our home!My jaw slacked tightly as my eyes scanned the space and then found my Luna gazing at me with a nervous hope in his eyes that I had never expected from her. She did this?She did this all for me?I blinked slowly, stunned into silence for a second too long. Carson gave me a shove forward with a chuckle.“Guess the patient is cured now, huh?”Ashley looked down as if she felt suddenly shy, then lifted her gaze to mine with a soft smile. “It’s not much. Just … an evening for us.”Not much?I looked around again, my chest tightening. After everything, war, b
Ashley’s P.O.V.The sun hadn’t reached its peak, and I was already halfway through the prayer ceremony’s arrangements, working my ass off. The Moon Hall needed to be purified. The silver altar clothes had to be changed, elders needed invitations, and every ranked wolf had to be informed with just the right amount of urgency, not panic. It took me hours to finalize the venue with Luna Rose.Then I arrived at my office in the hospital, the temporary set up to work on pack matters without disturbing Vincenzo’s rest. I was scribbling a note for Gamma Carson in there when I paused, a strange feeling creeping over me. Something was definitely off!The hallway was too quiet, for the kind of chaos I usually left behind when I wasn’t around to micromanage Alpha Vincenzo’s moods. I turned around and caught one of the nurses passing by. “Hey, Ava!How is Alpha today?”Ava shifted awkwardly, her eyes darting like she had been caught red-handed doing something wrong.“Uh … fine. I thin
Ashley’s P.O.V.Huffing like an offended prince, Vincenzo accused me, though the amused curl of his lips betrayed his false outrage. I let out a laugh and poked his nose with the tip of my finger.“You can’t call it spousal abuse just because I have missed your mouth. It was a genuine mistake, Your Highness.”“Mistake?”He scoffed, leaning closer.“That porridge was weaponized.”The heat in his eyes melted my heart into a puddle, captivating my attention. I found myself drawn towards him like a moth to a fire. But at that very moment, Vincenzo’s husky whisper echoed in my mind.“If this goes further, we are going to complete our mating ritual.”No!!!I couldn’t be selfish and put his life in danger only for my pleasure. My mate had a serious heart problem, and any strenuous activity could make it worse. So, I quickly composed myself and dodged his attempt to steal a kiss.“Eat!”I said, ruffling his already messy hair.“Finish your breakfast and take medicine. Then we wi